Electric Cooktop Vs. Gas Cooktop: Which Is Right For You?

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If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then your range or stove makes sure your heart takes in the good and kicks out the bad. The range is the workhorse of the kitchen, and therefore, the type of range you choose for your remodeled kitchen plays a key role in the functionality of the most popular room in the home.

Gas and electric cooktops are the two most prominent stove types across America. Of course, just like hardwood or tile, shower or tub, there are a unique set of advantages and disadvantages that come with both. Below, I will discuss all the pros and cons of both, their costs and a newer style that is quickly gaining momentum.

Costs

In the end, many homeowners choose their range based on price. All you need is a heat source, so why pay more for something you don’t really need? I will get into those reasons later, but if you’re choosing on price alone, electric ranges are cheaper.

According to our kitchen appliances cost estimators, basic ranges, be it gas or electric, cost as little as $350. Clearly, stainless steel models, which are popping up every day, can cost upwards of $2,000. However, you won’t find a range that expensive in a home unless the owners are everyday chefs.

As far as repairs go, common fixes for both ranges usually run around $250. This price includes both parts and labor.

Winner: Electric Cooktop

Controlling the Heat Source

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Now we get into the functionality of the actual range. As we heat up our leftover meatloaf or sauté a nice stir-fry, often times, we need the pan to hit an exact temperature. The same goes for cooking pasta, as you bring the water to a boil and then decrease once you put your ingredients in. Well, as you expected, there is one range that holds its temperature better than the other.

Gas ranges can control the heat precisely. Unlike electric ranges, which cool down slowly as you reduce the heat after a boil, gas cooktops give you a consistent temperature, making your cooking experience that much easier.

Winner: Gas Cooktop

Thinking about updating your kitchen? Talk to a local pro and see how they can bring your dream to life.

Cleaning

Sadly, one of the biggest cons of cooking at home is the cleaning process. No one likes to take out the paper towels and other cleaning supplies, but when you cook dinner on the stove, it’s almost always a necessity.

If you tend to make a mess as you prepare your famous BBQ or Bolognese sauce, then you may want to go with an electric cooktop. Once cooled, this modern stove lets you easily gather all those drippings without having to dig into those hard crevices. Gas ranges, on the other hand, present those tough to clean curled coils. Once food gets in there, the cleaning process turns from a one-minute job into a 10-minute chore.

Winner: Electric Cooktop

Safety

Whenever heat and fire are involved, safety must be a part of the equation. Both present the same level of danger (very small if you’re monitoring the food) as you are preparing the best meal of your life. However, gas ranges do present the risk of gas leakages and fires if the pilot light goes out. While it’s not common, this risk is non-existent with electric stoves.

However, and speaking from personal experiences, homeowners are less likely to burn themselves with gas ranges. Oftentimes, people forget how long it has been since they lit up their electric stove and make the mistake of placing their hand near the burners. With the coils present, this problem rarely occurs around gas ranges. Either way, be very careful hanging around your electric or gas cooktop soon after cooking.

Winner: Tie

Other Costs

As you read above, if you go with a basic model, both ranges are relatively cheap to install. However, as you might expect, electric or gas bills will increase with the addition of either. Given that electric ranges tend have a higher effect on your electric bill, electric ranges bring on additional costs. The added costs are minimal, but should play a role in your final decision.

Winner: Gas Cooktop

Counter Space

We can’t all live in lavish kitchens big enough for an army, so counter space can sometimes play a key factor in your design decisions.

As you might expect, electric cooktops give you additional space to place your groceries, cut veggies and organize the kitchen. With the gas coils sticking out of gas ranges, one doesn’t always have that extra flat surface we all so desperately crave in smaller kitchens.

Winner: Electric Cooktop

New Contender: Induction Cooking

Induction stovetops, already very popular overseas, is starting to really gain momentum in the U.S. As opposed to gas or electric, induction stoves heat up the pot itself. As our friends at HomeAdvisor pointed out, an induction burner creates an electromagnetic current beneath the surface that runs up through the pot, creating resistance in the pot's metal, and in turn, creating the heat you need to cook your food. Sounds pretty useful. For more information, please check out Embrace the Future with an Induction Cooktop.

Conclusion

As you can see, there is no right or wrong answer. Judging by the winning categories, the more creative cooks tend to go with gas cooktops, while the more recreational chefs often choose electric.